NASCAR timeline

NASCAR is born

Jan 13, 1900

ABC news timeline Stock car racing gets its start during Prohibition, with moonshine runners attempting to flee federal tax agents.

Daytona beach meeting.

Dec 14, 1947

ABC news timeline Bill France Sr. holds a meeting in Daytona Beach, Fla., to discuss the future of stock car racing and NASCAR is conceived.

First race

Feb 15, 1948

ABC new timeline First NASCAR race is run in Daytona at the beach road course

Incorporated NASCAR

Feb 21, 1948

ABC news timeline NASCAR is incorporated

First 500-mile race

Sep 4, 1950

ABC news Timeline The Southern 500, NASCAR's first 500-mile race, is held at Darlington Raceway

First road race

Jun 13, 1954

ABC news timeline NASCAR's first road race, the International 100, is held at Linden Airport in New Jersey

Fireball roberts

Mar 6, 1958

ABC news timeline Fireball Roberts is voted Professional Athlete of the Year by Florida sportswriters, the first time the honor goes to a race car driver.

first daytona winner

Feb 22, 1959

ABC news Timeline Lee Petty wins the first Daytona 500 in front of 41,000 fans.

Televises two hours

Jul 16, 1961

ABC news timeline ABC Sports televises two hours of the Firecracker 250 from Daytona as part of its Wide World of Sports

first winning car owner

Sep 13, 1962

ABC news timeline Mamie Reynolds becomes the first winning car owner (with Fred Lorenzen at the wheel) at Augusta Speedway in Georgia.

first african american

Dec 1, 1963

ABC news timeline Wendell Scott is the first African-American to win a premier division NASCAR race at Jacksonville Speedway

first of seven

Jan 14, 1964

ABC news timeline Richard Petty wins the first of seven championships.

Alabama International Speedway

Sep 14, 1969

ABC news timeline Alabama International Speedway -- known today as Talladega Superspeedway -- opens.

Breaks 200mph

Mar 24, 1970

ABC news timeline Buddy Baker becomes the first driver to break 200 miles per hour

MRN

Feb 14, 1971

ABC news timeline Motor Racing Network -- MRN -- broadcasts its first Daytona 500

Bill France and son

Jan 10, 1972

ABC news timeline Bill France Sr. hands leadership of NASCAR to his son, Bill France Jr.

Invited to white house

Jan 16, 1978

ABC news timeline Jimmy Carter invites NASCAR drivers to the White House

7th series championship

Nov 18, 1979

ABC news Timeline Richard Petty wins his record seventh series championship.

Winston cup series

Jan 16, 1986

ABC news timeline NASCAR renames its premiere series the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

Fastest Speed Record

Apr 30, 1987

ABC news timeline Bill Elliott sets fastest speed record at 212.809 miles per hour at Talladega

Nascar televised

Mar 6, 1989

ABC news timeline Every race in the NASCAR Cup Series is televised.

Richard retires

Nov 15, 1992

ABC news timeline Richard Petty retires after 35 years of racing.

Matching records

Jun 18, 1994

ABC news timeline Dale Earnhardt wins his seventh series title, matching Richard Petty's record.

50th anniversary

May 18, 1998

ABC news timeline NASCAR celebrates its 50th anniversary.

partnerships

Nov 11, 1999

ABC news timeline NASCAR signs partnerships with Fox, NBC and Turner Sports.

Fatal car crash

Feb 18, 2001

ABC news timeline Dale Earnhardt Sr. dies in a final lap crash at the Daytona 500.

Nascar expands

Aug 24, 2004

ABC news timeline NASCAR expands to Mexico City with a new Busch Series event for 2005.

The Carc of tomarrow

Mar 25, 2007

ABC news timeline The car of tomorrow debuts at the Nextel Cup Food City 500 in Bristol, Tenn

Bill France Jr. dies

Jun 7, 2007

ABC news timeline Bill France Jr. dies at the age of 74 after many years of involvement in NASCAR.

Dale Earnhardt jr Leaves

Oct 26, 2007

ABC news timeline Dale Earnhardt Jr. announces that he will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of 2007.